theroseandlion started following you
romaniankingdom started following you
fiertecanadienne started following you
thedancingangelmj started following you
disgruntled-dogmusher started following you
aphmissilesandmagnolias started following you
ask-thecityofliverpool started following you
letusbecanadian started following you

—-

[And more company. No, he certainly wasn’t very pleased by the idea in the least— he wasn’t one who favored the idea, to begin with, no longer being the sociable person he had once been. Yet, at the same time, he supposed he may as well welcome them— certainly, no harm has come from company as of yet. Formalities were formalities, and he had been trained to keep them, whether disliking the idea of being in another presence or otherwise.]

… zdravstvuitye, and welcome.

amerikanyets вступили в профсоюз.

ostatkislavy:

Ivan couldn’t help but notice something… different in the way Alfred carried himself- the way they approached and spoke even. The boldness, intrepid manner he so well knew Alfred for- for the longest time- wasn’t there. In fact, it was almost as though it had never been there at all. His face tuning to a tone of utter, unmasked confusion, Ivan raises a brow while examining, almost scrutinizing the other over again. Every line in their face looked downcast- the air around this person- who he wasn’t positive was Alfred at all- was gloomy, defeated- like a dog that been kicked until it couldn’t bark anymore. Most noticeably absent was their smile, the annoying, ever present grin. It had always seemed to simply be there, either by default or purposely to bother Ivan, but now it just… wasn’t.

However, if Ivan’s face was confused before, it looked like a plate that had just been shattered on the floor upon hearing their voice. More so the words that came out of Alfred’s mouth- perfect Russian. Accented and everything- as well as it could be coming out of this nation, at least. Lost in a cloud of confusion, Ivan blinked several times, looked as though he were going to say something, faltered, and then regrouped himself. His tone is careful, the annoyance replaced by a confused sort of curiosity- searching. As his gaze is returned, he sees something familiar, not in them however..

He sees brokenness.

“I- Alfred? I do not recall your being able to speak Russian- and you certainly have never addressed me with such formalities. You need not apologize, I am not upset.. Are you alright?”

He doesn’t enjoy the feeling of being scrutinized, as if he was but a mere insect being observed under a magnifying glass. Yet, what point is there in speaking out against it, especially in Ivan’s presence? Was it not best to keep his head down obediently and hold his tongue? Trouble was the least of what he wanted to cause… and in fact, wanted absolutely none of that, now.

And yet, to simply not speak up at all concerning Ivan’s own behavior is proving to be rather difficult. The other man’s reaction is completely unlike what he expects— confused and lost and surprised, by manners he’s expressed for quite some time, now. It draws in a curiosity he has to force himself to bite back, knowing that it would do no good to ask, for was it not what killed the cat? He found himself entertaining the notion that, perhaps, he has mistaken the other man for someone else entirely is considered once more, and he finds himself considering the thought. Because, really, the Ivan he knew wouldn’t stare at him like he’s suddenly grown an extra head, and he certainly would have given a more imposing air, and he certainly wouldn’t have called him—

It was when the name— that name he’s dissociated himself from— finally reaches his ears that he freezes, his posture suddenly growing rigid as it dawns on him. No, no, he repeats internally, anxieties growing further as the realization of being called by that name sinks in, and it can only lead him to question why. Why would Ivan even refer to him as such now, when he had encouraged the notion of him distancing himself from the person he had once been? Though it had been his decision, ultimately, Ivan had nevertheless indulged him, and to see him refer to him by that other name in such a questioning, confused voice was rather jarring. The concern shown at the end of the sentence only serves to confuse him further. Certainly, this can’t be Ivan, or at least, his Ivan.

Drawing in a shaky breath, he once again attempts to calm his nerves from the jarring name that had been thrown upon him earlier. That wasn’t his anymore, to begin with— no. Alfred simply wasn’t here anymore. He can’t even bare to look up at him properly anymore— too jarred he is by having that title brought up again, and too wary he is towards the man who bore a face similar to the Ivan he knew… but didn’t quite behave in the exact same manner.

“… I… I’m afraid you are mistaken, ser.” The word slips out of habit, because he still bears Ivan’s face, and it’s enough to draw him into doing such. “There is no Alfred here— I apologize for the confusion.”

[In which the year for this ask is 2013.]

… what do you mean by that?

I guess starting up trade again with my bro up north would be a good start.

[He’s puzzled by the non-specific nature of the question, but it can’t be blamed if he doesn’t dwell too much on it. It’s been twenty-two years, after all, and there’s still so much work to be done.]

Pick an age or point on the character’s timeline, and ask a question. The character will respond as the age.

coffeecrispsandcanadiantire:

amerikanyets started following you 

…Welcome to Canada. Can I help you somehow?

[Canada?

And how the name of the country itself strikes him with confusion— because he can’t be there, he shouldn’t be there in the first place. Ivan had made it clear that he wasn’t allowed to see the other, and he himself wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to even try and do that in the first place.

And yet, here he was, standing in front of a certain Matthew Williams. The idea of it already brought out mixed feelings, and to be in his presence itself strengthened those. He knew quite well this wasn’t his Matthew— but it didn’t make such emotions subside.]

Ah… no. I was only passing through— I apologize for the intrusion.

angrynerdyblogger:

do you ever just “what the fuck is the point” so hard that you stop everything you’re doing and stare and pretty much wonder why you don’t vanish from existence because the level of done you are should pretty much deconstruct your biological makeup

dampislandnation:

velikiy-gosudar started following you
amerikanyets started following you

..My, don’t the both of you make a complementary pair.

… I apologize if I may sound demanding, but please don’t make comments of that sort.

[He pressed his lips together for a moment, a memory surfacing from the corners of his mind— of an Arthur he knew, and certainly it was in a past sense. Seeing the other man was certainly disconcerting, and it brought the rise of certain acrid feelings he was well aware were more directed to that of the one he knew… or Alfred had known.]

… I’m sorry for the intrusion. I’ll be on my way, now.

pinko-commie-bastard:

amerikanyets started following you

Ah! Alik!! It has been much too long! If you can, come inside! I want you to meet the children and perhaps have some tea!

[And he isn’t the least bit sure how he should react— certainly, he remembers this Ivan and is able to differentiate it from his own. Yet their association had been brief, and this burst of friendliness makes him… skittish. What is he to say? How is he to say it? He presses his lips together and peers down briefly, contemplating on the matter.]

Ah… I apologize for intruding, I do… if I am intruding, that is—

[Oh, what a confused creature he certainly felt like he was.]

gilbertbeilschmidt:

Are you forgetting who decided to visit who? Or did all that shock and surprise somehow scramble your brain more than its usual fucked up state.

Under the assumption a visit to you is what I wished to accomplish, that is. I was only passing through— you were the one who wanted to bring attention to my presence.

dutchmansblog:

Oh? Apologising? Now I know something’s wrong with you

I… apologize?

[He wasn’t sure what to say, even— yes, he could quite agree there were a few things wrong with him, but he sensed the other was taking it in a different light. With each second, he could feel himself growing more agitated, with his nerves acting up on him again.]